Have you ever experience pain in your ribs? Rib pains are quite common today, but with multiple causes. While this pain is not always serious, you do not have to ignore it. Sometimes you might need to go for treatment, and in other instances, the pain goes away on its own.
The nature of pain that you experience is an important cue used to establish the source and nature of the pain.
Physical Injury
A physical injury on your ribs can be devastating. The leading causes of physical damage to the ribs include accidents, sports injuries, and falls. These injuries can be classified as bruised ribs, fractured ribs, broken ribs, and pulled muscles supporting the rib cage. The best way to establish the source of the pain is by going for X-rays from bone breaks and MRI for soft tissue damage.
Lung Cancer
Lung cancer is one of the most common types of cancers. This condition is characterized by rib cage and chest pains, which often worsen when you take deep breaths, cough, or laugh. In case you notice any of these symptoms, it is advisable to visit a doctor as soon as possible. Statistics show that early detection of lung cancer significantly improves your chances of getting cured.
Pleurisy
Also known as Pleuritis, Pleurisy is an inflammatory condition that affects the muscular linings (pleura) along the chest and lungs. These linings contain thin tissues. In their healthy state, the pleura glide smoothly along with each other. However, when there is an inflammation on these tissues, their smooth motion is impeded, leading to some pain on your chest. It is worth noting that pleuritic pain might resolve on its own, but you can take some antibiotics to hasten the healing process.
Fibromyalgia
This condition is characterized by throbbing, stabbing, and aching pains. While this pain might be felt on each body part, they are commonly felt in the chest where there is a particular that connects the breastbone to the rib cage. This pain often feels like a stabbing sensation at the center of the chest.